How Successful People Plan Their Week

 Achieving success requires a set of weekly habits and
practices. By implementing these ideas consistently,
you will become proactive and set yourself apart from
people who simply drag themselves through each day.
As you read this article, ask yourself which ideas you
could put into action this week. Reading an article
about success is a start but it is not enough to achieve
your goals.


1. They Complete A Weekly Review
It is easy to be swept away by the stress of daily living.
That’s why successful people use the Weekly Review to
put their work and life back into perspective. Once you
learn how to do a Weekly Review, you can master this
success habit in a matter of weeks. At first, use the
Weekly Review to review your calendar, email accounts
and other information sources. Over time, you may
want to add further steps to your Weekly Review.
Once you establish the habit, an effective Weekly
Review will take about an hour to complete.
2. They Review Big Goals
Successful people are
excited by their goals. They
not only have a bucket list
– they take action to
achieve those goals on a
weekly basis. In order to
keep your motivation at a
high level, it is vital to set
challenging goals. For
example, author Jack
Canfield recently published
his 101 Lifetime
Goalswhich included go on
a safari in Africa, give a
university commencement address and sell 1 million
books. To make the process easier on yourself, choose
2-4 big goals from the list for the year and work
through them.
Need Inspiration To Create Your Big Goals?
50 Things You Should Do Before You Die
How To Create and
Manage Your Bucket List
3. They Plan Your Family
Requirements With A
Family Meeting
Successful people
understand that family life
matters. After all, what’s
the point of making a
fortune if you are alone
and miserable? When it
comes to running their
week, successful people
take note of their family
responsibilities. That
means sorting out school
schedules, reviewing
upcoming travel and planning dates with their spouse.
In fact, you may even want to have a “family meeting”
once a week to coordinate plans and make sure
nothing important is forgotten.
4. They Put Their Priorities On The Calendar
Successful people live through their calendars. At first
glance, a calendar may not appear to be a powerful
tool However, successful people realize that a blank
calendar represents a major opportunity to make
progress. For example, I set aside time on my calendar
for reviews, following up on management requests
and writing projects. It may feel a little odd to create a
“meeting with yourself” at first but it is well worth it,
especially when you look back on all that you have
achieved.
5. Plan Your Leisure and Relaxation
Successful people are driven to achieve demanding
goals and take care of their responsibilities. They also
realize that leisure and relaxation matter – without
these activities, life will feel like an a never ending to-
do list. Many high achieving people have hobbies and
sometimes work so much that they forget to pursue
them. For example, those who enjoy wine may do a
Google search for upcoming wine tastings in their city
and register for an event that suits their calendar.
6. They Think Through The Weekend
Weekends are important for successful people looking
to refresh and recharge after a difficult week.
Author Laura Vanderkam explored this topic at length
in her book “What the Most Successful People Do On
the Weekend.” It all starts with a proactive attitude – a
good and refreshing weekend does not simply
happen. Planning one or two “anchor events” (e.g. go
to a sports game or visit an interesting restaurant) is a
great way to make sure you have a pleasant activity to
look forward to.
7. They Plan Fitness
Fitness is a great element to living a successful and full
life. In fact, entrepreneur Michael Hyatt recently
discussed the mental and physicalbenefits of strength
training. Fitness is an excellent way to reduce stress
and maintain high energy levels. Many successful
people have an established morning routine where
they fit in an exercise session before they start work.
Cutting exercise is rarely a wise decision for those who
care about their long term success.
8. They Practice Gratitude Each Day
Successful people often reflect on their success and
the wonderful aspects of life. Simply acknowledging all
the good things in life is a key insight that authors
Tony Robbins and James Altucher practice to maintain
a clear mind and a happy attitude. One highly effective
way to practice gratitude is to use the Five Minute
Journal. Writing about what you are grateful for is a
great way to end the day.
9. They Schedule Time For Follow Up
Successful people know that reminders and follow up
are essential habits to get work done. Like it or not,
sending a single email is rarely enough to get a job
done in the corporate world. Successful people often
schedule 15-30 minutes on their calendar at least once
per week to follow up on requests, problems and
other important matters. For guidance on following up
professionally, use the following resource: 7 Tactics of
Following Up Without Being Annoying. The follow up
skill also applies outside of the business world –
following up on vacation plans, orders and planning
important events such as wedding anniversaries.
10. They Know The Limits of Planning
As successful people approach their week, they
understand the limits of planning. From time to time,
emergencies will happen. You may walk into the office
on Monday morning and learn that an important
customer is angry about a late delivery. That’s why
flexibility remains important. Fortunately, planning
and taking a proactive approach to work tends to
minimize the number of problems and emergencies
you will face in life.